Bushing with integrated rotation angle transmitter

Abstract

The invention relates to a bushing, particularly a moving gear bushing, consisting of at least a metallic or plastic core, and an elastomer body disposed around the core and connected with the core in an adhering manner. The bushing of the invention is characterized in that detectable material particles are embedded in the elastomer body or in an additional polymer matrix, particularly an elastomer matrix. The particles serve as a rotation angle transmitter and in turn cooperate with a rotation angle detector, with the aid of which angle changes within the bushing can be detected and in the form of a signal made available for headlight leveling control. In particular, the detectable material particles used form a strongly adhering bond with the core, and on the core create magnetic fields with alternating poles (N, S). The angle changes within the bushing are detected through the number of poles. The material particles are preferably rod magnets or magnetized ferrite particles.

1 . A bushing comprising: 
 a metallic or plastic core; and    an elastomer body disposed around the core and connected with the core in an adhering manner;    wherein detectable material particles are embedded in the elastomer body or in polymer matrix, the particles serving as a rotation angle transmitter which cooperates with a rotation angle detector to detect angle changes within the bushing in the form of a signal made to be used for headlight leveling control.    
   
   
       2 . The bushing according to  claim 1 , wherein the detectable particles form a tight adhesion bond with the core.  
   
   
       3 . The bushing according to  claim 2 , wherein the adhesion bond between the detectable material particles and the core is obtained by vulcanization.  
   
   
       4 . The bushing according to claims  1 , wherein the detectable material particles form magnetic fields with alternating poles (N, S), the angle changes within the bushing being detected through the number of poles.  
   
   
       5 . The bushing according to  claim 4 , wherein the detectable particles form magnetic fields with alternating poles (N, S) on the core.  
   
   
       6 . The bushing according to  claim 4 , wherein the detectable material particles are rod magnets.  
   
   
       7 . The bushing according to  claim 4 , wherein the detectable material particles are magnetized ferrite particles.  
   
   
       8 . The bushing according to  claim 7 , wherein the magnetization of the ferrite particles is carried out after the vulcanization.  
   
   
       9 . The bushing according to claims  1 , further comprising a sleeve made of metal or a plastic material, said sleeve surrounding the elastomer body in an adhering manner.  
   
   
       10 . The bushing according to  claim 9 , wherein the rotation angle detector is connected with the sleeve.  
   
   
       11 . The bushing according to claims  9 , wherein the rotation angle transmitter extends over an entire longitudinal direction of the sleeve or is present only in a region of the bushing where the rotation angle detector is operative.